According to Janet Mbugua, teenage pregnancy is often a direct result of period poverty, exploitation, and broken social systems. In Kenya, about 65% of women and girls cannot afford sanitary pads, leading many into dangerous situations. 

Research reveals that two-thirds of pad users rely on sexual partners to get them, with one in ten 15-year-old girls engaging in transactional sex just to afford menstrual hygiene. Tragically, this desperation opens the door to abuse from adults like truck drivers, boda boda operators, and even neighbors who prey on vulnerable teenage girls.

These cases are not isolated. They are part of a deeply entrenched cycle linking low education levels, poor economic status, and adolescent pregnancies. Girls from impoverished backgrounds are more likely to drop out of school, lack access to health information, and become easy targets for sexual predators, further worsening their futures.

Teenage Pregnancy Rates Globally: Where Does Kenya Stand?

Globally, teenage pregnancy remains a significant public health concern. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 21 million girls aged 15–19 years in developing regions become pregnant annually, with approximately 12 million giving birth. Teenage pregnancies are especially high in middle- and low-income countries, where access to education, healthcare, and contraception is limited.

Kenya ranks among countries with high adolescent birth rates, with an estimated 82 births per 1,000 girls aged 15–19. This is far above the global average of 44 births per 1,000 girls in the same age group.

Causes of Teenage Pregnancies in Kenya

Child Marriages: Cultural practices continue to support early marriages in rural and pastoralist communities. In South Sudan, Athiak Dau Riak, a 14-year-old girl, was married off for a high bride price, reinforcing the belief that the younger the girl, the more valuable she is. In many Kenyan communities, this belief persists, forcing girls into adulthood too soon.

Sexual Abuse and Exploitation: Many teenage pregnancies are not consensual but result from rape and sexual coercion, often by relatives, teachers, or older men. These acts are rarely reported or prosecuted.

Poverty and Period Poverty: As highlighted by Janet Mbugua’s advocacy, economic hardship forces many girls to engage in survival sex in exchange for pads, food, or school fees.

Lack of Comprehensive Sex Education: Many Kenyan schools avoid conversations about sex and reproduction, leaving girls unaware of their rights and how to protect themselves.

Counties in Kenya With the Highest Teenage Pregnancy Rates

Recent reports by the Kenya Demographic Health Survey (KDHS) and Ministry of Health identify the following counties as teen pregnancy hotspots:

Narok – deeply rooted cultural practices like child marriage and FGM.

Homa Bay and Siaya – poor access to reproductive health services and high poverty levels.

Tana River and Kilifi – influenced by early marriages and low education levels.

Consequences of Adolescent Pregnancies

School Dropouts: Many pregnant girls are forced to quit school due to stigma, lack of support, or being expelled.

Health Risks: Teenage mothers face higher risks of complications such as fistula, obstructed labor, and maternal mortality.

Poverty Trap: Without education or skills, young mothers are less likely to secure employment.

Generational Cycle: Children born to teenage mothers are more likely to drop out of school and repeat the same cycle.

Conclusion: Ending Teenage Pregnancies in Africa

Teenage pregnancies in Kenya are not just a health issue — they are a social justice crisis. They reflect the failures of society, families, and policy makers. Solutions must go beyond slogans. We need free access to sanitary pads, re-entry policies for teen mothers, stricter penalties for child marriages, and open conversations around reproductive health.

Above all, we must listen to girls. Their voices, their pain, and their dreams matter.